Chair for concrete reinforcing



April "1968 .1. M. HORNE 3,378,981

CHAIR FOR CONCRETE REINPORCING Filed April 28, 1965 dame: M. flow/7e INVENTOR.

BY W Q QM United States Patent Oil 3,378fi8i Patented Apr. 23, 1968 3,378,981 CHAIR FOR CONCRETE REINFORCHNG James Max Horne, Pasadena, Tern, assignor to Henry R. Cooper, Pasadena, Tex. Filed Apr. 28, 1965, Ser. No. 451,463 7 Claims. (Cl. 52--677) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in chairs or support devices for concrete reinforcing.

The general strength of concrete slabs, beams, columns or the like, is greatly increased by incorporating internal reinforcing members therein. However, the advantages attributable to such reinforcing members are substantially negated if they are not properly positioned relative to the concrete mass when it is formed.

When a concrete slab is to remain on the ground where it is formed, such as a slab foundation for a house, a sidewalk or street, it is frequently desirable to provide an impervious membrane or moisture barrier between the concrete and the soil on which it rests to prevent the porous concrete from absorbing moisture and thereafter sweating. Therefore, in forming the concrete slab the prepared soil is generally covered by a moisture barrier such as a sheet of polyethylene, or a cover formed of overlapping strips of roofing felt bonded together with molten tar. Thereafter, a lattice of reinforcing wire or reinforcing rods is usually placed in a prepared form or mold in which a concrete slurry is contained until it hardens or sets up. To be fully effective as a reinforcing member, the lattice must be completely imbedded in the concrete slurry and preferably, positioned midway between the upper and lower surfaces thereof. However, in many instances, while the concrete is being poured, attempts are made to position the reinforcing lattice by lifting it manually at random locations to allow the concrete slurry to run under the lattice; however, in some instances, the lattice is unintentionally allowed to rest directly on the waterproofing membrane or, is supported only on odd pieces of wood or other bits of scrap material that happen to be at hand. In either event, as it is generally necessary for workers to walk about on the reinforcing lattice in handling the concrete, the lattice is frequently moved sufliciently to cause sharp projections thereon to puncture or tear the waterproofing membrane. In some instances, merely the weight of a worker stepping on the lattice is sufficient to cause sharp projections on the supporting blocks or scraps of material to penetrate the Waterproofing barrier. Also, whenever the lattice is not properly positioned midway between the upper and lower surfaces of the slab, such as when a portion of the lattice engages the soil or the waterproofing barrier, or when the lattice is too close to the surface of the slab, a certain amount of strength is lost which would be in the slab or concrete member if it were properly reinforced.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved support for supporting concrete reinforcing members while a concrete slurry is being poured.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved support device for supporting concrete reinforcing members and for connecting such members together.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved chair device for supporting concrete reinforcing members wherein such device has a substantially nonpuncturing base portion for engaging a polyethylene sheet or waterproofing soil cover.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved unitary support device for supporting concrete reinforcing members which is lightweight and yet which is sufiiciently rigid to support the weight of a man standing thereon.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved one piece support device for supporting concrete reinforcing members, including a substantially fiat bottom portion, substantially vertically extending legs with manually deformable tabs thereon for securing concrete reinforcing members thereto and for connecting such members together.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved chair device for supporting concrete reinforcing members such as wire mesh and the like, and for fastening to same.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved chair device for supporting concrete reinforcing members wherein such chair device can be fastened to the reinforcing members manually without requiring any tools.

The preferred embodiment of this invention will be described hereinafter, together with other features thereof, and additional objects will become evident from such description.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of one embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention which is especially adapted for supporting and fastening to reinforcing wire mesh; and

FIG. 2 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the present invention which is particularly adapted to support and connect to reinforcing rods disposed in crossing relationship to each other.

Considering the apparatus of the present invention briefly, in the drawings, the letter A designates generally the chair or supporting device of the present invention which is adapted to support concrete reinforcing mesh M or reinforcing bars or rods R at predetermined distances above the ground G, while concrete is being poured, to insure that such reinforcing will be properly disposed in the slab when it is completed. The chair device A of this invention is of a relatively simple construction which may be readily fastened to reinforcing wire mesh M manually. Also, in the form of the invention shown in FIG. 2, crossing or intersecting rods or bars R may be joined together quickly and easily without using tying wires. This is accomplished by the deformable tabs T which are provided on the vertically extending support leg L as will be described more fully hereinafter. Also, it is important to note that the substantially horizontal base member H and the substantially vertically extending egs L provide a sufficiently rigid construction to resist distortion from the weight of a man standing thereon without puncturing a waterproofing membrane or cover C of polyethylene, roofing felt or the like, which is disposed on the ground G beneath the chairs A, as will be explained in detail hereinafter. The one piece chair device A of this invention lends itself to inexpensive manufacture as well as quick and easy installation and is capable of supporting the weight of a man thereon without puncturing a relatively thin moisture barrier disposed therebelow.

Considering the device A in more detail, such chair device A comprises a substantially horizontally disposed vertical load bearing plate or base H which preferably has at least a pair of substantially vertically extending support members or legs L formed integrally therewith. It can be appreciated that the chair device A can be quickly and inexpensiveiy manufactured from rolled sheet metal such as hot rolled black iron, or the like. It has been found that eighteen gauge iron is sufiiciently rigid to prevent deformation of the substantially vertically disposed support legs L when the weight of a man is applied vertically thereto, and yet is sufficiently pliable to allow the tabs T to be manually deformed, as will be explained in detail hereinafter.

As seen in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the chair A is substantially U-shaped and is preferably formed of a single strip of metal with the base member H which has a fiat lower surface being bent or turned upwardly at 12 to form the support legs L on opposite edges of the base H and extending substantially vertically thereabove. It should be noted that the juncture of the fiat bottom or base portion H with the support legs L indicated at 12 is preferably curved or rounded to eliminate any sharp edges or projections which might puncture the moisture barrier cover C on which the chair A rests. However, it can be appreciated that the chair device A can be used for supporting the wire mesh M or reinforcing rods R in instances where the moisture barrier C is omitted. Also, it can be appreciated that while the upstanding legs L are shown formed integrally with the horizontally extending load bearing portion H, such legs L may be secured to the portion H by welding or other suitable securing means without departing from the scope of this invention.

Considering next the apparatus for connecting the Wire mesh mat M to the chair device of the present invention, as best seen in FIG. 1 of the drawings, each of the upstanding support legs L has a laterally or horizontally extending slot or notch 15 formed therein for receiving a strand 16 of the wire mesh mat M.

As shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the slots 15 are formed near the upper edge 29 of the support legs L with the notches 15 facing or opening in opposite directions relative to each other. Each of the notches 15 terminates at approximately the lateral midpoint of the support leg L in which it is cut, and thereby forming a shoulder or stop 15a for engaging and securing a strand of mesh 16 at approximately midway between the opposite edges or sides of i]. e upstanding legs L. It can be appreciated that since each of the notches or openings 15 extends in an opposite direction relative to the other, the stops or shoulders 15a are also opposed relative to each other and will therefore engage opposite sides or" the strand or reinforcing mesh 16 extending therethrough.

After the strand 16 has been inserted laterally into the opposed notches 15, which may be accomplished simply by aligning the strand 16 with the opposite open ends of such notches and thereafter rotating the chair A horizontally until such strand 16 engages the shoulders or stops 15:; at the terminal ends of the notches 15, the fingers or tabs T which are disposed above the strand 16 are bent or twisted around and under such strand 16 to thereby grip it or lock it into position adjacent the stops or shoulders 15a thereby firmly securing the strand in the chair support A.

It will be noted that the notches 15 are preferably formed with their lower surfaces 151) having tapered or rounded portions 17 adjacent their open ends. The tapered or rounded portion 17 not only facilitates the insertion of the wire strands 16 into the notches 15 but, in the event the chair device A should be rotated about the axis of the strand 16, only rounded surfaces will be presented for engagement with the moisture barrier membrane or cover C to reduce greatly or eliminate altogether the likelihood of the chair device A puncturing such cover C. Similarly, the corners 22 adjacent the upper surface or edge of the upstanding legs L are rounded to eliminate any sharp corners or projecting surfaces which would likely puncture or tear the membrane or cover C should they come in contact therewith.

The embodiment of the chair device A of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 is normally used for supporting concrete reinforcing wire mesh which is of a construction well known in the art; however, such chair A may also be used for Supporting reinforcing rods, such as those shown at R in FIG. 2, if desired. In using the chair device,

it is understood that the surface on which the concrete is to be formed, whether it is soil or some other suitable supporting material, is first prepared and the necessary forms set. Such preparation may include the use of a waterproofing membrane of polyethylene or the like, or such cover C may be omitted, if desired. Thereafter, the reinforcing wire mesh M is cut to size and laid out in the prepared form. The chairs A are then installed at appropriately spaced intervals by inserting a strand 16 of the wire mesh into the oppositely facing slots 15 and thereafter twisting or bending the fingers or tabs T down and around such wire strand 16, as described herein. With the chair support A thus fastened or secured to the wire mesh mat M, such mat M will be supported a predetermined distance above the prepared ground or soil G on which the concrete slab is to be formed without puncturing or penetrating the moisture barrier cover C which is disposed on top of the prepared soil or ground G.

It should be noted that with the construction of the present invention the chairs A may be securely connected to the wire mesh M so that they will not be dislodged or displaced during the pouring of the wet concrete and in the event the chairs A happen to be stepped on by the workmen in preparing the forms or pouring the concrete, such chairs will not be deformed nor will they penetrate or puncture the moisture proof membrane on which they rest. Also, it can be appreciated that adjacent sections of the wire mesh mat M may be joined together and mutually supported by the chair A shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings by inserting parallel strands of the adjacent sections into the notches 15 and thereafter bending or twisting the fingers or tabs T around both of such strands.

FIG. 2 illustrates an alternate form of the chair device A of the present invention showing a different arrangement of the support legs L. The FIG. 2 modification of the present invention is normally used for supporting and connecting intersecting reinforcing rods or bars R and R which are connected together to form a reinforcing lattice, rather than the wire mesh type of reinforcing or lattice M. However, it can be appreciated that the FIG. 2 modification is also suitable for supporting the wire mesh M and may be so used, if desired.

Considering the FIG. 2 modification in more detail, it will be noted that the rods R and R normally extend substantially perpendicular relative to each other and that such rods are generally connected or secured together at their intersecting portions by means of short lengths of tying wire 30 whose ends are tightly twisted together, or some other type of securing device, as desired. The FIG. 2 modification is adapted to not only support the rods R and R at a predetermined elevation relative to the ground G but to also secure such rods R and R in their perpendicular relationship relative to each other, as will be explained more fully herein.

In the FIG. 2 modification, the upstanding legs or vertical support members L are generally disposed substantially perpendicular relative to each other and are preferably formed integrally with the vertical load bearing plate or base H. As shown, the legs L are connected to the base member H at two adjacent sides 42 and 43, respectively, which are preferably substantially perpendicular relative to each other. The legs L are preferably formed by bending portions of the base H into vertically disposed positions relative thereto at the adjacent sides 42 and 43 to provide curved or rounded external edges 42' and 43 respectively along the adjacent sides 42 and 43. However, the substantially vertically extending legs L may be formed separately and secured to the base member H, by welding or other suitable securing means.

Also, it will be noted that the notches 25a and 25b, respectively, are larger than the notches 15 of the FIG. 1 embodiment to accommodate the rods R and R' which normally have a larger diameter than the strands of wire forming the mesh M. Such notches 25a and 25b each face away from the adjacent edges 45 and 46 of the legs L to facilitate the insertion of the reinforcing rods or bars R and R laterally into such notches a and 25b, respectively. Also, it will be noted that the notch 25a is positioned at a higher elevation relative to the base member H than is the notch 25b to accommodate the rod R which, as shown, is positioned on top of or above the rod R. Also, in the FIG. 2 modification, the corner 47 of the base member H is rounded as are the corners 46a, 48 and 49 of the legs L to prevent their tearing or puncturing the cover C which is positioned on top of the ground G, should such corners come in contact therewith.

It can be appreciated that in using the FIG. 2 modification of the chair device of this invention the soil and forms are prepared in substantially the same manner as when the FIG. 1 modification is used, and that the FIG. 2 modification may be quickly and easily installed by inserting the rods R or R, respectively, laterally into the notches 25a and 25b until such rods engage the stop or shoulder portions 26 thereof. Thereafter, the fingers or tabs T are manually bent or twisted around and under the rods R and R, respectively, to secure the chair device A thereto. As illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawing, the twisted wire connector or other type of connecting device which is normally used to. connect the perpendicularly extending rods at their crossing or intersecting portions may be omitted and eliminated from an intersection adjacent a chair device of the present invention as the stop portions or shoulders 26 and the fingers or tabs T cooperate to secure the rods R and R, in their perpendicular relationship relative to each other. Or,if it is desired, the twisted wire connectors 30 may be omitted altogether and the chair device A used exclusively, in which case, the chairs A can be placed at each intersection or corner formed by two of the rods R and R, respectively, crossing each other, or, such chairs A maybe fastened at diagonally opposite corners formed by the intersecting or crossing rods R and R.

It can also be appreciated that the FIG. 2 modification chairs may be positioned at spaced intervals for connecting intersecting rods R and R, respectively, and for supporting the reinforcing mat or lattice formed thereby or, if it is desired, such chairs may be provided with each of the rods R and R to thereby eliminate completely the use of the time consuming wire tie connections 30.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the inven tion is illustrative and explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction, may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A chair for supporting longitudinally extending concrete reinforcing members, including:

(a) a load bearing member having a substantially plane lower face adapted to rest on a substantially horizontal flat surface to thereby prevent said load bearing member from digging into and gouging the flat surface;

(b) a pair of support legs extending substantially vertically upwardly from said load bearing member for supporting concrete reinforcing at a predetermined elevation relative to said flat surface;

(c) each of said legs being in sheet form and having oppositely disposed upstanding sides and an upper edge intersecting said upstanding sides;

((1) each of said legs having a laterally extending notch for receiving a longitudinal concrete reinforcing member, said notch being defined by:

(l) a longitudinally extending shoulder means for limiting lateral inward movement of the concrete reinforcing member;

(2) an opening in one of said upstanding sides of each of said legs for enabling the concrete reinforcing member to be received by said notch; and

(e) a laterally extending manually deformable tab formed in the plane of the sheet forming each of said legs adjacent each of said notches; and each of said tabs having a horizontal length substantially greater than the width of each notch so that it can be manually bent with a single bend around the reinforcing member in the notch for each reinforcing .member in its notch and preventing movement of the chair relative to the reinforcing member when the tabs are bent around the reinforcing member.

2. The structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said support legs are positioned and spaced parallel to each other on said load bearing member.

3. The structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein each of said openings formed in each of said legs is formed in oppositely positioned vertical sides of one of each of said legs and wherein each of said shoulder means is positioned substantially in the center of one of each of said respective legs to enable each of said notches in one of each of said legs to extend laterally in opposite directions.

4. The structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said support legs is positioned on said load bearing member substantially perpendicularly relative to each other to form a corner.

5. The structure as set forth in claim 4 wherein each of said notches is formed in said vertical side of each of said perpendicularly positioned legs spaced furthest from each other and wherein each of said notches in each of said legs extends laterally toward the corner.

6. The structure as set forth in claim 5 wherein each of said shoulder means is positioned substantially in the center of one of each of said legs.

7. The structure as set forth in claim 6 wherein one of said notches is positioned higher in its respective leg than said notch in the remaining of said pair of legs.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 871,210 10/1907 Cummings 52--687 1,362,707 12/1920 Lampert 52-684 1,464,886 8/1923 Snyder 52685 1,882,499 10/1932 Johns 52-679 2,278,917 4/1942 Curry 52-678 FOREIGN PATENTS 526,247 9/ 1940 Great Britain.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

JAMES L. RIDGILL, JR., Examiner. 

1. A CHAIR FOR SUPPORTING LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING CONCRETE REINFORCING MEMBERS, INCLUDING: (A) A LOAD BEARING MEMBER HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY PLANE LOWER FACE ADAPTED TO REST ON A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL FLAT SURFACE TO THEREBY PREVENT SAID LOAD BEARING MEMBER FROM DIGGING INTO AND GOUGING THE FLAT SURFACE; (B) A PAIR OF SUPPORT LEGS EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICALLY UPWARDLY FROM SAID LOAD BEARING MEMBER FOR SUPPORTING CONCRETE REINFORCING AT A PREDETERMINED ELEVATION RELATIVE TO SAID FLAT SURFACE; (C) EACH OF SAID LEGS BEING IN SHEET FORM AND HAVING OPPOSITELY DISPOSED UPSTANDING SIDES AND AN UPPER EDGE INTERSECTING SAID UPSTANDING SIDES; (D) EACH OF SAID LEGS HAVING A LATERALLY EXTENDING NOTCH FOR RECEIVING A LONGITUDINAL CONCRETE REINFORCING MEMBER, SAID NOTCH BEING DEFINED BY: (1) A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING SHOULDER MEANS FOR LIMITING LATERAL INWARD MOVEMENT OF THE CONCRETE REINFORCING MEMBER; (2) AN OPENING IN ONE OF SAID UPSTANDING SIDES OF EACH OF SAID LEGS FOR ENABLING THE CONCRETE REINFORCING MEMBER TO BE RECEIVED BY SAID NOTCH; AND (E) A LATERALLY EXTENDING MANUALLY DEFORMABLE TAB FORMED IN THE PLANE OF THE SHEET FORMING EACH OF SAID LEGS ADJACENT EACH OF SAID NOTCHES; AND EACH OF SAID TABS HAVING A HORIZONTAL LENGTH SUBSTANTIALLY GREATER THAN THE WIDTH OF EACH NOTCH SO THAT IT CAN BE MANUALLY BENT WITH A SINGLE BEND AROUND THE REINFORCING MEMBER IN THE NOTCH FOR EACH REINFORCING MEMBER IN ITS NOTCH AND PREVENTING MOVEMENT OF THE CHAIR RELATIVE TO THE REINFORCING MEMBER WHEN THE TABS ARE BENT AROUND THE REINFORCING MEMBER. 